NZ581226A - A hinging construction for a bin assembly with hinge having fingers that connect from one panel side to an adjacent panel opposite side - Google Patents

Abstract

For connecting corners of a collapsible bin sides so that sides can be in the same planar orientation when collapsed as well as at right angles when erected a hinge connector is typically made from a blank and has fingers that connect from one side of a bin side panel to the other side of the adjacent side panel. Adjacent fingers typically alternate from one side to the other.

Description

Received by IPONZ 19 Apr 2012 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: 581226 Date: 16 November 2009 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A HINGING CONSTRUCTION FOR A BIN ASSEMBLY We, CARTER HOLT HARVEY LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 173 Captain Springs Road, Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: Received by IPONZ 19 Apr 2012 The present invention relates to hinging mechanisms for bin assemblies, components of such mechanisms, sub-assemblies and assemblies, related uses, methodologies and the like.

The present invention is directed preferably to bins of a kind typified by those disclosed in our New Zealand patent 567591 and New Zealand registered design 410720, the full contents of which are hereby included by way of reference.

In such arrangements a mechanism is provided by the blank shown in Figure 10 or Figure 10A of the drawings in New Zealand patent 567591. Such a form of hinge mechanism, as is made from that single piece blank, has been found to be less robust owing a tendency for it to partly open as will be described hereinafter by reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

It is an object to provide such bins with a more robust hinging mechanism.

The present invention envisages a hinge mechanism for association with panels of a lie flat/erectable bin as disclosed in our New Zealand registered design 410270 which is more robust. Preferably such mechanism can, if desired, be made from a single piece blank such us for example a solid fibre board and be glued by a typical assembly glue such as a PYA type glue.

In an aspect the present invention consists in a panel to panel connection assembly that allows the panels ("first" and "second" panels) to be aligned in the same plane as well as at right angles, the assembly being characterised in that (i) fingers of a sheet material one or more assemblies formed from a hinging blank anchored to one side of said first panel attach to the other side of the second panel and (ii) fingers of a sheet material of one or more assemblies formed from a hinging blank anchored to said one side of the second panel attach to the other side of the first panel.

Preferably the fingers alternate along the hinging connection and the panels are hinged on a hinge axis aligned at least substantially to said first sides.

In an aspect the present invention consists in a hinge zone between panels, fingers of a sheet material anchored from a first side of a first panel affixed to a second side of the second panel and fingers of a or the same sheet material anchored from a first side of the second panel affixed to the second side of the first panel, there being, at least to some extent, an alternation, interlacing or interweaving in the finger panel attachments along the hinge.

Preferably the hinge axis is provided by sheet material substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings at the proximal regions of said fingers.

In an aspect the present invention consists in a blank to act as a hinge for mutually hinged panels (eg. of but not necessarily of a lie flat bin), the blank defining a central pair of panels connected by a first fold line, Received by IPONZ 19 Apr 2012 a flanking pair of panels, each flanking panel being connected by a parallel foldline to each one of the central panels, and fingers outstanding from each of the flanking panels, wherein, in use, the fingers being suitable for anchoring to the mutually hinged panels. Preferably each flanking panel has a set of longer and shorter fingers.

Preferably each central panel carries a wrap for the panel from a fold line normal to said parallel foldlines.

Preferably each set of longer and shorter fingers align to shorter and longer fingers of the other set respectively.

In another aspect the present invention consists in a blank as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 11.

In another aspect the present invention consists in a pre-glued assembly as herein described with reference to any one or more of Figures 2D, 3B, 4A,4B, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

In another aspect the present invention consists in a lie flat bin comprising four square or rectangular panels, and four hinging arrangements, one for each adjacent pairing of panel edge regions; wherein each hinging arrangement defines a hinging axis substantially aligned to the inside surface of each pair; and wherein one or more hinging blank of a sheet material for each hinging arrangement defines said hinging axis and provides fingers of a sheet material anchored proximally to one panel on the side near the hinging axis affixed distally to the other panel on its other side, and vice versa.

Preferably the panels are of a corrugated paperboard construction.

Preferably each hinging arrangement is of a single blank.

Preferably the blank acting as all or part of the hinging arrangement of the mutually hinged panels (eg. of but not necessarily of a lie flat bin), defined a central pair of panels connected by a first fold line, a flanking pair of panels, a said flanking panel being connected by a parallel foldline to each one of the central panels, and fingers outstanding from each of the flanking panels.

Preferably each flanking panel has a set of longer and shorter fingers.

Preferably each central panel carries a wrap for the panel from a fold line normal to said parallel foldlines.

Preferably each set of longer and shorter fingers align to shorter and longer fingers of the other set respectively.

Received by IPONZ 19 Apr 2012 Preferably the flute at the top of each panel is capped.

Preferably a base is attached to one or more of the panels (whether a one part base or not).

Preferably the base is capable of being stowed to some extent between panels in the lie-flat mode.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or". In some circumstances it can mean both.

As used herein the term "(s)" following a noun means one or both of the singular or plural forms.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of'. When interpreting each statement in this specification that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

As used herein "alternating", "interlacing" and "interweaving" refer to at least some semblance of sharing of load (in shear) between the surfaces of the adjacent panels.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Two preferred forms of the present invention can now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 in respect of a first embodiment, is a plan view of a preferred single piece blank of a solid fibre board of a kind as previously mentioned; Figure 2A shows a perspective view of the blank of Figure 1 prior to folding commencement; Figure 2B shows the folding commencement; Figure 2C shows folding to a stage where the blank is ready to be glued; Figure 2D shows the initial gluing to hold the form as shown; Figure 3A shows the resulting product of the initial gluing of Figure 2D ready for a second gluing stage where each shorter finger is glued to the proximal region of a longer finger but in an alternating arrangement along the height of the hinge mechanism, Figure 3B shows the next stage to that from Figure 3A where the longer fingers are folded over the smaller length fingers so the distal regions of the longer fingers are available for gluing conveniently to a panel of the product along with the shorter fingers; Received by IPONZ 19 Apr 2012 Figure 4A shows the hinging mechanism as it is when in a lie flat assembly, but for clarity not showing the two adjacent panels that are hinged together; Figure 4B is another view of the arrangement of Figure 4A; Figure 5 shows the hinging mechanism shown in the aforementioned patent and registered design showing how, near its top and/or bottom extremities there is a tendency to pull apart; Figure 6 shows, with a pen as a pointer, the region of weakness of a top region of a corner of an erect bin with mechanism as in New Zealand patent 567591, Figure 7 shows the top region of a bin utilising the hinging mechanism of Figures 4A and 4B at its top corner; Figure 8 is a view from above in respect of a bin assembled with four such hinging mechanisms, one in each corner; Figure 9 shows how, without the clearance provided by the rounding and/or tapering shown in the blank of Figure 1, there can be some difficulty in assembly; Figure 10 shows the more convenient use to the squared forms of fingers in Figure 9 that arises from the tapering and rounding shown in Figure 1; Figure 11 is, in respect of a further embodiment, a plan view of a preferred single piece blank of a solid fibre board of a kind as previously mentioned; Figure 12 is a blank of a covering member to cover the exposed flute of each of the panels; Figure 13 is perspective view of a bin, almost in its flattened lie flat condition, but being viewed from above, so as to reveal the aesthetic benefits of the blanks of Figure 12 when used in conjunction with hinging blanks of Figure 11; Figure 14 is an open bin as in Figure 13, Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view from above of the relationship of a stated jig 1 and jig 2 in respect of a press allowing the press to be used alternately with one jig and then the other, and Figure 16 is an end view of a jig referred to as either jig 1 or jig 2 in Figure 15.

Figure 1 shows a preferred blank in accordance with the present invention. This blank 1 preferably is a unitary blank of, for example, a material as previously mentioned, viz TL900/TL1020 to be glued by PVA glue.

Shown in Figure 1 are panels 1, 2, 3 and 4, preferably of equal rectangular size. For example 200mm by 1029mm.

Each longer finger 5 or 6 (fingers 6 being narrower than fingers 5) extend outwardly beyond the fold line 7 by about 100mm. Preferably the spacing between the fold lines 7 and 8 is Received by IPONZ 19 Apr 2012 of the order of about 34mm and the shorter fingers 9 or 10 respectfully (wider and narrower) do not extend beyond the fold lines 7.

Upwardly above each of panels 1 and 2 are flaps 11 which operate in the same way the flaps shown in Figures 10 and 10A of the aforementioned patent. There is a spacing between hinge lines 13 and 14 also but of a distance of for example 32mm.

It can be seen that each of the fingers tapers somewhat or every second one tapers and is gapped by appropriate roundings distally and proximately so as to preclude the ultimate gluing difficulties inherent were they to be used in a square form as in, for example, Figure 9.

In use it can be seen that the blank 1 gets folded for initial PVA gluing of the inner faces of panel 3 to the outer face of panel 1 and the inner face of panel 4 to the outer face of panel 2. Panels 1 and 2 are not adhered one to the other as in the condition of Figure 2C. They are then opened to the condition as shown in Figure 3A so that the fingers upstand as shown for gluing of the proximal regions together and the setting of the fingers in a jig ready to be adhered to a different face of a panel to the flange 3, 1 or flange 4, 2.

By pulling over the other finger (to which it is preferably adhered) there is no tendency for pulling apart when in its final condition (panels not being shown) as shown in Figures 4A and 4B without panels and when in an arrangement as in Figures 7 and 8 with respect to panels 15 and 16 of a kind as disclosed in the aforementioned patent.

Shown of course in Figures 7 and 8 are the underlying fingers adhered to the panel and protected at the bin top by the overlying flaps 11 and the transition region between fold lines 13 and 14.

Unlike the prior art embodiments of the aforementioned patent which have the tendency to pull apart at, for example, 17, the lattice-like hinging that results from the present invention gives rise to great strength.

A number of features are worthy of mention: Lattice hinge does not pull apart as in Figures 5 and 6 each is pulling from the opposite sides removing the gap; The lattice hinge is designed with smaller finger at the top and bottom ■ This is to make sure there was no splitting by having the first two fingers close to the top and bottom; The top folds over to help give a nice finish on the top corners and to hold the hinge on the bin " The fold over is glued under the fingers The rounded fingers on the hinge are to make gluing and assembly a lot easier Received by IPONZ 19 Apr 2012 ■ As seen below the square hinge has no gaps and it's very tight. This makes it harder to assemble.

Figures 11 to 14 show a slightly different embodiment where a slightly different hinge blank as shown in Figure 11, is used in all four incidences, and four blanks 18 are used to dress over the flute of the upper part of each panel. Accordingly there is not only the hinges provided by the four blanks 19 of Figure 11, the wall panels and the flute covering blanks 18 adhesively attached to the wall panels.

Also shown in respect of the embodiment of Figures 11 to 14 are the outside folds of a base form 20 preferably enfolded into the space between the paired panels show in Figure 13.

Such a base can be of any suitable form including that disclosed in our as yet unpublished New Zealand patent application 567591. The full contents of which are hereby included by way of reference but not as an admission of prior art.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

A feature of the base of the before mentioned patent specification is Figure 15 shows a layer of zones to accommodate a press between Jig zones Jig 1 and Jig2- Figure 16 shows an end view of a Jig as might be used in either of the zones Jig 1 or Jig 2 and then be pressed. Shown in that end view of Figure 16 is a folded lattice hinge 20 with the broken lines 21 indicating applied adhesive.

Shown as the solid black 22 is a spacer hinge with the hatched members 22 and 23 being the MDF base and corner spaces respectively. The hatched part 24 is a spacer in a load position e.g. the position for example 23 we will assume for the purpose of loading. In this instance however spacer 24 has a panel edge cover 25 carried thereby to which has been applied a line of adhesive 26.

The arrangement allows the combining of the hinge with the edge cap. The edge cap is to cover the raw (exposed flute) edge. Whilst the cap can be glued to the panels first, the jig allows the gluing of the hinge to the edgecap in the jig as illustrated. This improves accuracy and looks better.

After an adhesive such as PVA is applied and the lattice folds are completed.

Received by IP0NZg19 Apr 2012

Claims (21)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A panel to panel connection assembly that allows the panels ("first" and "second" panels) to be aligned in the same plane as well as at right angles, the assembly being characterised in that (i) fingers of a sheet material one or more assemblies formed from a hinging blank anchored to one side of said first panel attach to the other side of the second panel and (ii) fingers of a sheet material of one or more assemblies formed from a hinging blank anchored to said one side of the second panel attach to the other side of the first panel.

2. An assembly of claim 1 wherein the fingers alternate along the hinging connection and the panels are hinged on a hinge axis aligned at least substantially to said first sides.

3. As a hinge zone between panels, fingers of a sheet material anchored from a first side of a first panel affixed to a second side of the second panel and fingers of a or the same sheet material anchored from a first side of the second panel affixed to the second side of the first panel, there being, at least to some extent, an alternation, interlacing or interweaving in the finger panel attachments along the hinge.

4. A zone of claim 3 wherein the hinge axis is provided by sheet material substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings at the proximal regions of said fingers.

5. A blank to act as a hinge for mutually hinged panels (eg. of but not necessarily of a lie flat bin), the blank defining a central pair of panels connected by a first fold line, a flanking pair of panels, each flanking panel being connected by a parallel foldline to each one of the central panels, and fingers outstanding from each of the flanking panels, wherein, in use, the fingers being suitable for anchoring to the mutually hinged panels.

6. A blank of claim 5 wherein each flanking panel has a set of longer and shorter fingers.

7. A blank of claim 5 or 6 wherein each central panel carries a wrap for the panel from a fold line normal to said parallel foldlines.

8. A blank of claim 6 wherein each set of longer and shorter fingers align to shorter and longer fingers of the other set respectively.

9. A blank as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 11.

10. A pre-glued assembly as herein described with reference to any one or more of Figures 2D, 3B, 4A,4B, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

11. A lie flat bin comprising four square or rectangular panels, and four hinging arrangements, one for each adjacent pairing of panel edge regions; wherein each hinging arrangement defines a hinging axis substantially aligned to the inside surface of each pair; Received by IPONZ 19 Apr 2012 and wherein one or more hinging blank of a sheet material for each hinging arrangement defines said hinging axis and provides fingers of a sheet material anchored proximally to one panel on the side near the hinging axis affixed distally to the other panel on its other side, and vice versa.

12. A bin of claim 11 wherein the panels are of a corrugated paperboard construction.

13. A bin of claim 11 or 12 wherein each hinging arrangement is of a single blank.

14. A bin of claim 13 wherein the blank acting as all or part of the hinging arrangement of the mutually hinged panels (eg. of but not necessarily of a lie flat bin), defined a central pair of panels connected by a first fold line, a flanking pair of panels, a said flanking panel being connected by a parallel foldline to each one of the central panels, and fingers outstanding from each of the flanking panels.

15. A bin of claim 14 wherein each flanking panel has a set of longer and shorter fingers.

16. A bin of claim 14 or 15 wherein each central panel carries a wrap for the panel from a fold line normal to said parallel foldlines.

17. A bin of any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein each set of longer and shorter fingers align to shorter and longer fingers of the other set respectively.

18. A bin of any one of claims 14 to 17 wherein the flute at the top of each panel is capped.

19. A bin of any one of claims 14 to 18 wherein a base is attached to one or more of the panels (whether a one part base or not).

20. A bin of claim 19 wherein the base is capable of being stowed to some extent between panels in the lie-flat mode.

21. A bin substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANT